Valley of the Suns
Fansided

Suns’ Kevin Durant getting well-earned praise before 2023-24 season

By Justin Lee

DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 09: Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns plays the Denver Nuggets in the second quarter during Game Five of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals at Ball Arena on May 09, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 09: Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns plays the Denver Nuggets in the second quarter during Game Five of the NBA Western Conference Semifinals at Ball Arena on May 09, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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The Phoenix Suns are one of the only teams, and maybe the only team, to have three players in the top 20. You could argue they have two guys in the top 10, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. With these three guys, the Suns should have one of the most devastating starting lineups in the league.

But that doesn’t mean these three haven’t had their fair share of hate. One guy in particular, Durant, has dealt with hate or people not giving him his flowers for several years now. It all stems from when he left Oklahoma City and went to join the dynasty that is the Golden State Warriors.

People have called Durant a snake, among many other names. His health issues since tearing his Achilles haven’t helped either. Durant has paired with other superstars in an attempt to win championships and has yet to be able to do it since Golden State.

In a way, he hasn’t really gotten the respect he deserves because of all these things. Many people forget this is one of the baddest players on the planet, and I don’t mean bad in a bad way.

As the kids say, Durant has that “dawg” in him. He is one of the most talented players ever to play and is the most talented scorer ever. But the past is in the past; he’s a Sun now and here to try and bring a ring to the Suns, hopefully their first ever.

Now, he is getting the respect he deserves.

Bleacher Report gives Suns’ Durant respect

Bleacher Report thinks Durant is still one of the best players in the league and the third-best wing in the league. Here is what they had to say:

“He is one of the game’s premier point producers, as a true three-level scorer and rock-solid secondary playmaker. He not only made his second entry into the famed 50/40/90 club this past season, but he also made it look absurdly easy, converting 56 percent of his field goals, 40.4 percent of his long-range looks, and 91.9 percent of his free throws,” wrote Zach Buckley of BR.

This list is a little iffy while they are giving Durant his Flowers.

They have LeBron James at No. 2, which is fine. He is the best ever to do it at the wing position and is still going strong. But No. 1 is Jayson Tatum, and I’m confident he is not better than Kevin Durant in any aspect of the game. While three seems fine for Durant, I figured Bleacher Report would have considered Giannis Antetokounmpo as a wing and put him at No. 1.

Antetokounmpo does play on the wing, even though he is the Bucks’ power forward. This is positionless basketball, where Antetokounmpo does everything for his team and spends much time on the wing.

Either way, Durant is one of the best players in the league. In 2023, we will see that. If he can stay healthy for a full season, I do not doubt he can be at No. 1 on this list.

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